Jokes aside, at 33, Scruton is coming into the twilight stage of his career but on Friday lunchtime, he’ll realise a lifelong ambition – playing in a Super League Hull derby.

Overcoming a number of injury concerns to take to the field, the forward revealed there was one unique selling point when it came to joining Rovers in 2017, despite disaster striking in 2016’s Million Pound Game.

“I remember sitting down with Jamie Peacock (KR head of Rugby) in Xscape in Castleford, and we spoke about me signing. He gave me the run-down of the club and everything was all gravy – but I was just sold on the derby,” Scruton, formerly of FC in a season-long loan spell back in 2004, told the Mail.

IN BLACK AND WHITE: Nick Scruton during his time on loan at Hull FC in 2004. (Image: Phil Dawes)

“At my age, I don’t have many years left in me and I really fancied playing in this. It’s something special and everybody wants to watch it, never mind play in it.

“It’s been 18 months in the making but I think the waiting has added to the occasion. The fans are chomping at the bit and the players are too.”

A bitter rivalry isn’t alien to Scruton, who was well versed in the pinnacle of derby clashes in the early noughties before KR’s first promotion to the top flight.

Beginning his career at Leeds, the mammoth tussles between the Rhinos and Bradford Bulls, during their heyday, were a joy to behold. But with St Helens and Wigan seemingly overtaking that title – what does Scruton make of the other big billings?

“Do you know what, I didn’t even think about those Leeds v Bradford derbies – I was that daft, there wasn’t much between my ears back then,” Scruton admitted with a smile on his face. “I used to just turn up and be buzzing on the day.

“But now, especially with my kids… My eldest son is really nervous for Friday and excited. You tend to think about things more when you’re older. I’ve played in some big derbies, in front of 23,000 at Odsal, so it should set me up to handle this situation and we have big-game players too.

“This feels different to any other week that I’ve been here. The chef is buzzing, the kit-man is buzzing, I’ve played for derbies for Leeds and Wakefield but none have felt like this.

“I’ve seen everyone talking Saints and Wigan as the biggest derby. Maybe ours doesn’t need any selling. It needs no build-up. There’s just something extra special about the Hull derby and two points would really kick-start our season.”

There’s an added importance to the tie beyond the bragging points. A surprise Robins victory, against all the odds, would put them level in the table with the Black and Whites, and in turn give everyone a huge pick-me-up heading into Easter Monday’s trip to a side flying under-the-radar in Wigan Warriors.

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Hull KR prop Nick Scruton

Calling on every man in Red and White to make a difference, Scruton’s keen to ensure KR’s Good Friday rings true with confidence brimming in the camp despite a mixed start to life back in Super League.

“We haven’t been a million miles off – aside from Salford. We’ve not played bad, a bounce of the ball here and there we’d have picked up a couple of wins. But there’s no better games to kick-start our season than this one,” he added.

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“There was a lot of talk about the derby being watered down by playing each other too much. I always think back to last year, which was enjoyable and the only pressure was on us to win.

MOBBED: Hull KR prop Nick Scruton.

“To go up in the circumstances that we did, to knock our first five games off, was more than anyone could ask for. The fans enjoyed putting 50 on teams every other week… but there was no derby.

“I think with that year off, they’re ready for it and it’s added to the occasion. Hull haven’t been playing too well and we’re the side coming up, it’s levelled things out a bit. They’ll go in as favourites but realistically it’s 50/50.

“We showed character against Saints in defeat last week and we’re definitely going to need it again. Hull are a good side, they’re welcoming players back and we’re losing them. Everyone’s ready, form goes out of the window, it’s about how we can all make a difference.”